Seattle Animal Shelter news and events

It’s Super Bowl time and even the animals at the Seattle Animal Shelter are getting in on the action! Join the Seattle Animal Shelter staff and shelter animals for a pre-game party from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 1.

Stop by the shelter for some cake and to meet adoptable dogs, cats, and critters. These animals are rooting for the home team and for a home of their own.

The Seattle Animal Shelter’s cat and critter rooms are undergoing renovations in 2015, and beginning next week, visitors can expect to see impacts due to construction activity at the shelter facility. The project will result in major improvements for cats and critters in the shelter’s care, and several measures are planned to help alleviate overcrowding and to reduce the stress on the animals during the renovation.

Until the renovation project is complete, residents who find stray animals are encouraged to seek out the animal’s owner using the shelter’s Lost and Found Database or by matching licenses or microchips with assistance from shelter staff. Also, beginning, Feb. 3, Seattle residents wishing to surrender animals or turn in strays must do so by appointment only. If you find a stray and need help reuniting it with its owner, or if you would like to make an appointment to surrender an animal, call the shelter at 206-386-7387.

Several partner agencies in the Puget Sound area have generously agreed to accept surrenders from Seattle residents during this time. Please note that many shelters also require appointments and may have surrender or “rehoming” fees, or other qualifiers, so please contact the agency prior to arrival:

The renovation plan calls for an extensive upgrade of the current cat room and critter area, allowing for more flexible space for the animals. It will involve structural upgrades, as well as improvements to the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. During construction, cats and critters will be housed in temporary animal care trailers. Dogs will also be relocated to a trailer during the day, to remove them from construction noise within the shelter facility, but they will be returned to the dog kennels each evening. The animal care trailers will be placed in the shelter’s existing parking lot, and visitors are being redirected to the gravel parking lot across West Armory Way. One ADA-accessible parking stall will still be available at the shelter’s existing parking lot.

Seattle Animal Shelter Director Don Jordan encouraged anyone considering adding a pet to their family to drop by the shelter.

“We are taking steps to protect the animals from construction impacts, but ideally we would love to find forever homes for all our animals,” Jordan said. “If you have room in your home and your heart, this is the perfect time to adopt.”

The shelter is also seeking additional foster families, to give the animals a temporary home and a break from the shelter environment, while helping to find the animals their forever homes. If you are interested in learning more about the shelter’s foster care program, visit the program website at http://www.seattle.gov/animal-shelter/volunteer/foster-care.

During construction, field enforcement efforts will continue as normal, as will operations at the shelter’s Spay and Neuter Clinic. Construction is expected to continue until summer 2015. This project is funded in part by a generous donation from the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation.

The Seattle Animal Shelter, located at 2061 15th Ave. W., is open Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m., for adoptions and licensing. For more information, call 206-386-7387 (PETS) or visit http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

To commemorate Feb. 24, 2015, as “World Spay Day,” the Seattle Animal Shelter’s Spay and Neuter Clinic is offering free spay/neuter packages to area pets scheduled for surgery Feb. 23-27, 2015. Microchips and vaccinations will also be offered free for animals having surgery on those days. Space is limited; to schedule an appointment, call 206-386-4260. This promotion is possible because of a generous grant from the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation.

“Spaying and neutering allows your pet to have a longer, healthier, happier life,” said Dr. Mary Ellen Zoulas, director of the shelter’s Spay and Neuter Clinic. “It can reduce the risk of serious health problems, eliminate undesirable behaviors such as fighting and spraying, and reduce inter-dog aggression.”

This Spay Day promotion offers significant savings for Seattle pet owners. Spay and neuter surgeries usually cost $120-$155 for dogs, $85-$90 for cats and $75 for rabbits. Microchips are normally $30 and vaccinations run $10 each. While there is no residency requirement to take advantage of this special offer, pets of Seattle residents must be currently licensed or a license can be purchased on the day of the appointment. For altered animals, a one-year license is $20 for cats/$27 for dogs, and a two-year license is $27 for cats/$37 for dogs.

Dr. Zoulas also recommends having your pet – dog, cat or rabbit – microchipped while it is at the clinic for surgery. Microchips are invaluable for the peace of mind provided by this permanent means of identification should your pet ever become lost or stolen.

Dogs, cats and rabbits can be spayed or neutered at four months of age or older. Dr. Zoulas and her team are excited to again extend the shelter’s World Spay Day promotion to include rabbits, the third most-popular pet in Seattle. While clinic staff have been providing spay and neuter services to the rabbits adopted from the shelter for nearly 17 years, they only began providing this service to the public two years ago. Clinic staff are pleased with the enthusiastic response of rabbit owners to this program.

“Spaying and neutering are safe, routine surgeries that prevent animals from breeding,” said Seattle Animal Shelter Director Don Jordan. “This annual effort helps end the suffering of unwanted and homeless animals in our community by preventing unplanned litters.”

This year’s free spay/neuter, microchip and vaccination packages are also partially funded by the City’s “Pet Population Control Fund,” which provides financial assistance year-round to pet owners who cannot afford the cost of spaying and neutering.

“World Spay Day” is an international campaign of The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International. During the month of February, animal shelters and animal welfare agencies throughout the world join forces to promote the spaying and neutering of pets as the most effective and humane way to decrease the euthanasia of homeless animals in shelters throughout the world.

There are several ways you can celebrate Spay Day in February and throughout the year:

Donate to the “Pet Population Control Fund” at the Seattle Animal Shelter.

Turn in a litter. As part of an ongoing Seattle Animal Shelter program, anyone who turns in a litter of puppies or kittens to the shelter, is eligible for a free spay or neuter for the parent animal(s). In return, the shelter guarantees the adoption of these kittens and puppies, if they are adoptable.

Talk to your friends, neighbors and family about getting their pets spayed or neutered. Year-round the Seattle Animal Shelter’s Spay and Neuter Clinic is able to help those in need with discounted or free spay/neuter surgeries.

For more information about Spay Day Seattle, to make a donation to the Pet Population Control Fund or to learn more about other Seattle Animal Shelter services, call 206-386-7387 (PETS), or visit www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

The Seattle Animal Shelter will host a cat adoptathon on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, at the Mud Bay – Uptown, located at 522 Queen Anne Ave. N., Seattle. The event runs from noon to 3 p.m. and features numerous kittens and cats of different breeds. Cats available at this event have been living with foster parents, who are available at the event to share information about the personality and habits of the cats with potential adopters, helping to make a perfect match.

“With our neighborhood adoptathons, we hope to continue to spread the word about the joys and value of adopting shelter pets and saving lives. If you have room in your home and your heart for an orphaned animal, this is a great opportunity to come and see some of the wonderful pets available from our foster-care parents,” said Don Jordan, Seattle Animal Shelter director.

The Seattle Animal Shelter has a foster-care program to rehabilitate sick and immature dogs and cats. Donations from the city’s “Help the Animals Fund” pay for veterinary care for these animals while they are being fostered.

The Seattle Animal Shelter is open Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions and licensing. The shelter is located at 2061 15th Ave. W., Seattle, and the phone number is 206-386-7387 (PETS). Animals available for adoption can be viewed online at www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

Have your kids been begging for a pet of their own? If you’re ready to give in, but are still afraid you don’t have the space for a dog or maybe someone in your household is allergic to cats, the Seattle Animal Shelter has the perfect solution: start small.

Come on down to the shelter on Saturday, Dec. 20, for Cool City Pets, an adoption event highlighting small animals looking for their forever homes. From 1-3 p.m., potential adopters can meet the many small animals available for adoption from the shelter, including: rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, birds, reptiles, ferrets, mice and more.

Volunteer small-animal specialists will be on hand to help adopters find the right pet for them. They provide information about each animal’s characteristics and needs, demonstrate basic care and handling skills, and answer questions. The Seattle Animal Shelter features Cool City Pets the third Saturday of every month.

All ages are welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Animals may be adopted by adults only. Adopters must be prepared to provide proper housing, food, water, toys and other materials necessary for the care and good health of the animal. During the shelter’s “Home for the Holidays” promotion, which runs through Dec. 31, the adoption fee for small animals at least 6 months of age is only $15.

The Seattle Animal Shelter is located at 2061 15th Ave. W, about a mile south of the Ballard Bridge. If you would like more information or directions, please call 206-386-7387 (PETS) or visit the shelter’s website at http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

The shelter is open Tuesday through Sunday, noon-6 p.m. for adoptions and for licensing.

The Seattle Animal Shelter reserves the right to approve or deny any animal adoptions and limits the number of small animal adoptions to no more than three per household.

The Seattle Animal Shelter is extending its adoption promotion through Dec. 31, 2014, hoping you will help give homeless animals a “Home for the Holidays.” During this winter promotion, you can adopt a pet for only $15, plus applicable two-year license fees.

Dogs, cats and critters at the shelter are waiting to find homes, and shelter staff are hoping this promotion will encourage potential pet owners to adopt. Both in-shelter and foster animals at least 6 months old qualify for the special pricing, although some high-interest animals are excluded.

“While many animals have found new families during this promotion, there are still many more pets at the shelter and in foster care that are waiting for their forever homes,” said Don Jordan, Seattle Animal Shelter director. “If you have room in your home and your heart, you can give an animal the greatest gift this season and save a life.”

With regular adoption prices of up to $145 (plus applicable license fees), this promotion offers up to $130 in savings. The adoption fee includes:

Certificate for free health exam at local veterinarians

Initial vaccinations

Spay or neuter

Microchip

Deworming

Feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus testing (cats only)

Sample pouch of food

For Seattle residents, a two-year pet license must be purchased with each adoption. The license fee is $27 for cats and $37 for dogs. Critter adoptions do not require licensing.

The adoption discount is made possible with funding from the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation.

The Seattle Animal Shelter, located at 2061 15th Ave. W., is open Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions and licensing. For more information, call 206-386-7387 (PETS), or view animals available for adoption online at www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

The Seattle Animal Shelter will host a cat adoptathon on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, at Mud Bay – Capitol Hill, located at 1514 Broadway, Seattle. The event runs from noon to 3 p.m. and features numerous kittens and cats of different breeds. Cats available at this event have been living with foster parents, who are available at the event to share information about the personality and habits of the cats with potential adopters, helping to make a perfect match. The shelter’s “Home for the Holidays” promotion is also ongoing, which means many of the cats at Saturday’s adoption event will be available for only $15, plus applicable licensing fees.

“With our monthly neighborhood adoptathons, we hope to continue to spread the word about the joys and value of adopting shelter pets and saving lives. If you have room in your home and your heart for an orphaned animal, this is a great opportunity to come and see some of the wonderful pets available from our foster-care parents,” said Don Jordan, Seattle Animal Shelter director.

The Seattle Animal Shelter has a foster-care program to rehabilitate sick and immature dogs and cats. Donations from the city’s “Help the Animals Fund” pay for veterinary care for these animals while they are being fostered.

The Seattle Animal Shelter, located at 2061 15th Ave. W., is open Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions and licensing. For more information, call 206-386-7387 (PETS), or view animals available for adoption online at www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

If you’re interested in becoming a foster parent for cats and kittens from the Seattle Animal Shelter, plan to attend a free orientation session, offered the first Sunday of each month – this month on Dec. 7 – from 1-2:30 p.m. The session will be held in the upper level conference room of the shelter, located at 2061 15th Ave. W.

Please sign up for the orientation by completing the registration form on our foster cat program website (http://bit.ly/fostercat) no later than 5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6. Once you have signed up, we will email you with a confirmation and orientation packet. Orientation will be cancelled if there are no sign-ups.

The Seattle Animal Shelter relies on volunteers to provide temporary foster care in their homes to rehabilitate and nurture sick, injured and immature cats and kittens or to just give adoptable cats a break from the shelter environment.

“Volunteers have told us this is a perfect project for the whole family and provides an opportunity for children to learn about the joys and responsibilities of having an animal without making a long-term commitment,” said Shelter Director Don Jordan. “The ultimate beneficiaries are the pets who are nurtured by their foster families, and the families who adopt them.”

Jordan said the foster care program is quite simple. You provide food and a temporary home; the Seattle Animal Shelter will provide any necessary veterinary care. The shelter’s “Help the Animals Fund” subsidizes the costs associated with the foster care program including all pre-approved vet care.

If you attend an orientation session you are under no obligation to foster an animal. The orientations are just the first step in the process. Each prospective foster parent is provided with a foster-care manual and a “case manager” who provides advice and answers questions.

As we head into the holiday season, the Seattle Animal Shelter is hoping you will help give homeless animals a “Home for the Holidays.” During this winter promotion, which runs Nov. 29-Dec. 14, you can adopt a pet for only $15, plus applicable two-year license fees.

Dogs, cats and critters at the shelter are waiting to find homes, and shelter staff are hoping this promotion will encourage potential pet owners to adopt. Both in-shelter and foster animals at least 6 months old qualify for the special pricing, although some high-interest animals are excluded.

“At the shelter and in our foster care program we have incredible animals in need of a forever home,” said Don Jordan, Seattle Animal Shelter director. “If you have room in your home and your heart, you can give an animal the greatest gift this season and save a life.”

With regular adoption prices of up to $145 (plus applicable license fees), this promotion offers up to $130 in savings. The adoption fee includes:

Certificate for free health exam at local veterinarians

Initial vaccinations

Spay or neuter

Microchip

Deworming

Feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus testing (cats only)

Sample pouch of food

For Seattle residents, a two-year pet license must be purchased with each adoption. The license fee is $27 for cats and $37 for dogs. Critter adoptions do not require licensing.

The adoption discount is made possible with funding from the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation.

The Seattle Animal Shelter, located at 2061 15th Ave. W., is open Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions and licensing. The shelter will be closed this Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday. For more information, call 206-386-7387 (PETS), or view animals available for adoption online at www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

They don’t have to clear the table or do the dishes after the Thanksgiving feast, but your pets can be susceptible to some of the same holiday hazards as people, including stress from entertaining guests and overindulging. The Seattle Animal Shelter wants to help you make Thanksgiving a safe one for the furry members of your family, by offering a handful of holiday tips.

“Holidays are stressful enough,” said Dr. Mary Ellen Zoulas, medical director of the Spay and Neuter Clinic at the shelter. “The last thing you want to deal with after a long day of cooking, entertaining and cleaning is a cat or dog that is sick from stress or overeating.”

General Tips
Keep the stress level down. This is as important for your pets as it is for you.

Stick as closely as possible to your normal routine. Try not to vary the times you feed, walk or play with your pet.

If possible, give your pet a little special attention before any guests arrive at your home or prior to leaving, if you plan to feast elsewhere.

If you are hosting Thanksgiving, remember that not everyone is comfortable around dogs and that your dog may not be comfortable with unfamiliar people.

Give your pet a place to retreat to if things become too noisy or hectic for him. This may be his crate or a room that is safe and away from the flow of traffic. Make sure that you provide fresh water and a litter box for your cat. To make sure your pet doesn’t feel ignored, give him something to keep him occupied like a made-for-dog chew-bone or a toy your cat likes to play with on his own.

FoodThanksgiving food can be a minefield for your dog or cat.

Scraps from the table should not be given to your dog or cat either intentionally or by accident. Keep an eye on those picky eaters who want to “share” with your pets.

There are a number of foods that are absolutely off limits for your dog or cat. These include (but may not be limited to):

Turkey bones

Turkey skin

Raw turkey

Bread dough

Raw batter (cake or cookie)

Onions – raw or cooked

Garlic

Chocolate

Walnuts and macadamia nuts

Mushrooms

Nutmeg

Sage or other herbs that contain essential oils. Cats are especially sensitive.

Never give your dog or cat alcohol. Be selfish and save the alcohol for your own pleasure.

Remember that your floral arrangement on the table may look like a fresh salad to your cat, so keep him from taking a mouthful or two.

One man’s garbage may be your pet’s treasure. Make sure that the string, foil, paper, butter wrapper, plastic coverings and bones that you intend to throw away do not get foraged and scavenged by your pet. They are crafty creatures and can eat the unthinkable in the blink of an eye.

“Despite all my good advice, I have found that I am absolutely unable to ignore the pleading eyes of my dog or the plaintive mews of my grandcat,” said Dr. Zoulas.

With that in mind, Dr. Zoulas offers these acceptable ways to include your pet in Thanksgiving:

You may give your dog a few small boneless pieces of cooked turkey, a taste of mashed potato, green beans, sweet potatoes or even a tongue-swipe of pumpkin pie. The operative words here are “few” and “small.” Like us, pets will pay for overindulgence/overeating of Thanksgiving treats.

You may share Thanksgiving with your cat by giving him a sliver of cooked white turkey meat or cooked giblet. Rather than pie, give him a taste of plain canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix).

Most importantly, enjoy the holiday! Best wishes for a happy Thanksgiving to all.

The Seattle Animal Shelter, located at 2061 15th Ave. W., is open Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions. The shelter will be closed on Thursday and Friday for the City-observed holidays. For more information, call 206-386-PETS (7387) or visit http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org.